The fishing equipment industry is forecast to reach $2.6B by 2031, growing at 4.5% annually. This is a strong and healthy trajectory. Fishing is a hugely popular pastime and sport that can be engaged with competitively or casually. It is often the case that even casual anglers have a high devotion, meaning they dedicate quite considerable time and energy to understanding key components of equipment and techniques.
Fishing rods continue to be the obvious frontrunner for revenue. However, there’s expected to interest surrounding the numerous key organizations putting together fishing events, which could see a spike in 2021. The UK could see sales increase due to a strong trout population. Fishing is becoming more popular in East Asia too, with China, Japan, and South Korea becoming prominent markets.
What are the latest trends within the fishing equipment themselves?
Hooks
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of different types of fishing hooks due to the considerable variety of applications an angler might need to consider and adjust for. Octopus hooks are popular, especially JSHANMEI’s and Gamakatsu’s, as are the ever-reliable basic hooks. However, one key area which is becoming especially important for anglers who engage in catch and release fishing is barbless fishing hooks. Catch and release fishing and barbless hooks focus on the survival of individual fish and groups of fish. They are both concerned with ensuring that fish, once caught, have the most optimal chances of surviving when returned to the water – done so in the quickest possible time frame and with the least amount of damage – to ensure that populations continue on, so that their lives are good and long but, also, so that an angler’s favorite spot doesn’t suffer and become untenable.
Detection
Many pieces of new technology obviously begin market life at a high value, finding a home in the commercial business sectors. Eventually, they make their way to other industries. Professional bass angling is fishing’s key competitive scene. It’s a multibillion-dollar industry. As such, a lot of impetus for new technology, followed by adoption, comes from this area of fishing, before being used in recreational environments by enthusiasts.
Pro bass fishing requires boat adjustments to be fast and stable – the latest Minn Kota Raptor, which is a far more adaptive and intuitive anchoring system to maintain a firm position wherever an angler needs, praised by the likes of Chris Zaldain, helps the latter. Side scanning and 3D depth finders are also key components. More efficient and effective devices and imaging enables anglers to position themselves in bountiful waters. Each type has its own specific moment to shine, and customers and users will bear that in mind at the point of purchase, but the HELIX 10 CHIRP MEGA SI+ GPS G4N and the Garmin ECHOMAP Ultra 106sv are notable products.
Rods and Reels
As mentioned, this is where a lot of eyes and money goes: rods and reels. New technology often gets incorporated into these essential angling pieces. Some enthusiasts wonder if fishing loses its edge if it’s made easier if there’s an imbalance in the nature vs. man element, with the implementation of pieces that offer intuitive reeling and rod handles like the American Tackle Tsuka Handle System which improves sensitivity.
